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UK NEWS
to the 48.2% of non-participants who listed cost as a reason for their inactivity.
Lifetime progression between on-the-water activities With 42.7% of boaters swapping to a different on-water activity rather than giving up boating and watersports, two clear patterns of movement between activities have emerged. As part of their natural
progression as a boater, participants are upscaling their form of activity. For example, a large portion of past participants of small sailboat activities and racing (30.4% and 34.2% respectively) now consider sail yacht cruising as their main boating activity. In comparison, a number of boaters are moving to activities that are more manageable with their lifestyles. The research shows that a notable 48.9% of watersports enthusiasts and 25.9% of canal boaters surveyed were previously sail yacht cruising participants. This is due to families converting to the flexibility of canoeing and rowing and older yachters switching to less physicalmotor boat activities.
The popularity of formal qualifications The majority of boaters (55.7% of boaters) learn through formal qualifications, many on hire and charter holidays, which are an important avenue to long-term participation. In addition, formal training
appears to remain a continual aspect of the boating lifestyle with a significant portion of participants (23.7%) undertaking further training for personal
development or to benchmark their skill level.
Boat owned vs. main boating activity The activity profile of boaters doesn’t automatically reflect the type of boat they own. For example, one in 10 dinghy owners consider yacht cruising as their main activity, whilst one in five narrowboat owners reported sail yacht cruising or motor boating/cruising as their main activity. For some boating enthusiasts, the financial flexibility and diversity of craft and locations offered by the hire and charter sector provides a compelling alternative to owning their own vessel, with 45.1% of non-boat owners surveyed previously hiring or chartering of a boat.
Pension freedoms show little effect on purchasing behaviour Despite new pension freedoms introduced in the 2015/16 financial year, out of the people who have chosen to purchase a new or used boat, very few (approximately 1.5% of new boat owners surveyed) have opted to use tax-free pension withdrawals to fund the sale. Instead, 86.6% of consumers have used savings as the primary means of funding a purchase.
Commenting on the survey,
Howard Pridding, Chief Executive of British Marine, remarks: “This in- depth research further cements British Marine’s position as a market research leader by providing a unique, in-depth insight into today’s consumers for marine businesses across the
industry to use. “By highlighting the
importance of generational learning and outlining the key influencers and concerns of prospective boaters and boat owners, this study provides a platform for British Marine to develop a new strategy to increase boating participation in the UK.” Paul Emery, Head of Navigators
& General, adds: “Truly understanding our customers is key to ensuring that Navigators & General’s insurance products and services continue to improve over time to be the best that we can offer. This new research does just that, exploring in detail how people from all walks of life care for and use their boats. “It’s great to work with British
Marine to finally see a uniquely in-depth piece of research which will not only encourage boat users to enjoy their crafts but also allows Navigators & General to ensure they have the right insurance cover and support should the worst happen.” Dean Smith, Operations and
Marketing Director at MDL Marinas, comments: “This is valuable research that gives much needed customer insight. As a business our priority is delivering an exceptional marina experience to our current and future customers. Data such as this helps inform our decisions and allows us to focus on understanding our customers’ evolving needs. It’s important that we as an industry have access to quality research like this and that we track and respond to it.”
For full details about the research visit
www.britishmarine.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2016 FORE & AFT 17
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